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Enough Pole bashing!
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Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Poland

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Khrystene

Joined: 17 Apr 2004
Posts: 271
Location: WAW, PL/SYD, AU

Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 10:44 am Post subject:

Blasphemer wrote:

Pompoms flying! GO TEAM GO TEAM!!!

What's the score!?

I dunno, I think he gave in... is it a forfeit?! Razz

Dynow, I haven't been speaking Polish from when I learnt to walk, it's much more complicated than that. Yes one side of my family is Polish but due to issues my Anglo, non-Polish speaking father had, we weren't allowed to speak it. SO SHOVE YOUR F'N ASSUMPTIONS WHERE THEY FIT DUDE.

If you're an underachiever then that's fine. You can only do your best. I have struggled to learn the language, I came with very little Polish and learnt it with my family where we talked and used signs to described things until we got to what the word was. Then I had flatmates who were Poles that spoke English and I watched lekored TV and I just talked - without worrying about mistakes. Poles have this habit (that many Anglo-types - myself included - find hard to swallow) of correcting you. Once you get used to it it helps. People have slowly stopped correcting me. And guess what, I have no formal Polish language studies, I make mistakes, I learn on the run. No books, except those I read now for pleasure; I taught myself to read by reading. Funny that.

If you DON'T want to learn the language of the country you're living in then why are you here? To endow us all with your wonderful wisdom perhaps. You wouldn't be the first.

I know several people, they are however not friends of mine, who have this royally arrogant attitude and refuse point blank to learn the local language (although they push their own language, as *cough* English teachers, down other's throats). I have even heard them say "Why should I?" - their isolation is acute. Loneliness is a terrible human affliction - we all suffer from it. Why make it worse?

Dynow and friends, you have ruined this board and Blasphemous is right... there are many many expats out there (from many countries) who have learnt some (even fluent) Polish and get on very well, so you're thankfully not representative of the whole of expat-tery in this country. You would do well to spend less time whinging here and more time talking to real people face to face. You might find your life gets a little easier and you might find you don't have time for this board anymore... and eventually the earth will replenish itself and the environment will rebound... a bit like Chernobyl.

Życie jest piękne.

Blasphemer

Joined: 03 Dec 2008
Posts: 199
Location: NYC/Warszawa

Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 10:49 am Post subject:

dynow wrote:

"maybe now Blasphemer you can begin to understand why someone might say something like the above comment."

How long have you been an American? Do you think you know more about the states than I do? Now I'm not talking about the US history, but about the culture, about the way that Americans are living now, about the political, demographic and social structure or about the mind set of an average American regarding pretty much any topics?

I'd say...

You have about 20+ years on me... I would never try to tell you anything about the culture of YOUR country and YOUR people. I would never say - You don't live there now, so you don't know what yer talking about!

On the other hand can you tell me that your grandmother for example fought in the Warsaw uprising, or that your family had to leave the country and seek asylum abroad?

Do you not follow current events in the states? Did you not quote me what you could be making back in the states as a teacher? Do you not keep in touch with your family and friends back there and have first hand accounts? Do I really have to spell everything out for you?

Why is that so hard to comprehend?

To answer the other question - I was employed before I even touched down, I had privates lined up as well. I did receive my first paycheck at the time of your inquiry. It's called planning ahead, something that's quite essential when dealing with a family.
I've been here now for 4 months and I am making around what you make and haven't had to deny myself or my family even once.

It's the same ol' story once again... let me just refresh your memory a bit Dynow - in the states you were making 40K a year and crying poverty... [it's well documented in the archives of this board]
I was making the same while living next door to you and supporting a family of four... so please dude, yer making a fool of yourself.

I was really trying to be nice here mate, but it looks like nice just doesn't translate well in your world.
You can cry and complain all you want, but no amount of bad mouthing me is going to change the fact that you simply don't have a clue after living here for how long?
Get a grip man, you know just as well as I do, that we both deal with expats on daily basis at our schools and for the most part they are happy and doing just fine. Even with paying for my child's pre-school, I am still able to save money... I don't know man, but it seems to me that you may be dealing with a serious crack habit.

Harry from NWE

Joined: 13 Sep 2007
Posts: 283

Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 10:53 am Post subject:

Blasphemer wrote:

nearly everyone can learn to speak another language... or two... or three... maybe even four.

I've been in Poland since 1995. In that time I have met a lot of foreigners, probably more than you have met in your three months here, but I can count on the fingers of one badly damaged hand the number of expats I've met who are fluent in Polish (meaning would pass the Polish version of CPE, if such a thing existed). I've met a few who can carry on a conversation (at slightly below FCE level) but not many.

Harry from NWE

Joined: 13 Sep 2007
Posts: 283

Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 10:59 am Post subject:

Blasphemer wrote:

You can cry and complain all you want, but no amount of bad mouthing me is going to change the fact that you simply don't have a clue after living here for how long?

I don't know man, but it seems to me that you may be dealing with a serious crack habit.

What were you saying about how this board could be a very useful place but that some people ruin it?

I do rather fail to see how calling a fellow professional a drug addict is in any way, shape or form doing anything to help this board. Perhaps you could explain?

Blasphemer

Joined: 03 Dec 2008
Posts: 199
Location: NYC/Warszawa

Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 11:02 am Post subject:

Harry from NWE wrote:

I do rather fail to see how calling a fellow professional a drug addict is in any way, shape or form doing anything to help this board. Perhaps you could explain?

I do rather fail to see how calling a fellow professional a tw@t is in any way, shape or form doing anything to help this board.

I love the fill in the blanks exercises... Cambridge should use this one.

Blasphemer

Joined: 03 Dec 2008
Posts: 199
Location: NYC/Warszawa

Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 11:06 am Post subject:

Harry from NWE wrote:

I've been in Poland since 1995. In that time I have met a lot of foreigners, probably more than you have met in your three months here

No argument there. I try to stick around Poles, my wife is just starting to learn Polish and my vocab is lacking as well.

Quote:

, but I can count on the fingers of one badly damaged hand the number of expats I've met who are fluent in Polish (meaning would pass the Polish version of CPE, if such a thing existed). I've met a few who can carry on a conversation (at slightly below FCE level) but not many.

As I have mentioned before, I have the pleasure of working with a handful of native teachers... and believe it... or not [as it usually is in your case] they are doing well, way over the pre-int levels.

Call B.S. if you want...

Harry from NWE

Joined: 13 Sep 2007
Posts: 283

Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 11:10 am Post subject:

Blasphemer wrote:

Harry from NWE wrote:

I do rather fail to see how calling a fellow professional a drug addict is in any way, shape or form doing anything to help this board. Perhaps you could explain?

I do rather fail to see how calling a fellow professional a tw@t is in any way, shape or form doing anything to help this board.

You might like to re-read this thread, you'll see that I haven't called anybody from here a tw@t (although I have been called one, not by you though). I haven't called any teacher a tw@t.

Of course, you are most welcome to quote any post in which I did call a fellow professional a tw@t. Perhaps you could either do so or apologise for suggesting that I did.

Blasphemer

Joined: 03 Dec 2008
Posts: 199
Location: NYC/Warszawa

Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 11:13 am Post subject:

Harry from NWE wrote:

that were you saying about how this board could be a very useful place but that some people ruin it?

Getting back to this one for a minute

- Polish people smell in the summer
- Polish women suck
- Polish men lack personality
- Polish food sucks
- Polish bureaucracy is the pits
- subpar living standards

and last but not least haha.. this one had me rolling

- Poles should change their language to accommodate foreigners

I mean... seriously hahaha is everyone on this board really that jaded? Do you not see the ruined potential of this board? I've managed to make some professional contacts through this board, but just imagine all the untapped resources and possibilities.

- birds gettin phatter yo! Time to fly south and get me some Chinese poontang! Ya Know wut I'm sayin son! Time to make like doughnuts and roll!

Blasphemer

Joined: 03 Dec 2008
Posts: 199
Location: NYC/Warszawa

Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 11:17 am Post subject:

Harry from NWE wrote:

I know a guy from New York who acts like a know-it-all tw@t and used to tell all of us all about Poland when he didn't even live here. Does that mean all people from New York act like a know-it-all tw@ts? No it doesn't.

oh.... I'm sorry.. it was a "know-it-all tw@t" please accept my deepest and most sincere apologies for misquoting you.

Harry from NWE

Joined: 13 Sep 2007
Posts: 283

Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 11:18 am Post subject:

Blasphemer wrote:

- birds gettin phatter yo! Time to fly south and get me some Chinese poontang! Ya Know wut I'm sayin son! Time to make like doughnuts and roll!

I do not know what you are saying, dad.

Although I do note that you are unable to back your claim that I used insulting language to a fellow profession. Or perhaps you think that you are the only person I have ever met from New York?

Blasphemer

Joined: 03 Dec 2008
Posts: 199
Location: NYC/Warszawa

Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 11:22 am Post subject:

Harry from NWE wrote:

Blasphemer wrote:

- birds gettin phatter yo! Time to fly south and get me some Chinese poontang! Ya Know wut I'm sayin son! Time to make like doughnuts and roll!

Wow... haha.. you've left me speechless. Good one Harry...

so what's the score now?

Team Jaded 4
Team common sense 0

Harry from NWE

Joined: 13 Sep 2007
Posts: 283

Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 11:33 am Post subject:

Blasphemer wrote:

so what's the score now?

Team Jaded 4
Team common sense 0

I don't believe that there are any winners here resulting from your posts. Perhaps you might like to actually contribute something of use to the board?

Blasphemer

Joined: 03 Dec 2008
Posts: 199
Location: NYC/Warszawa

Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 11:34 am Post subject:

Khrystene wrote:

... a bit like Chernobyl.

Have you been? I've been hearing about tours that you can now take ... I was thinking that maybe this summer I could check it out! A friend of mine was just there and told me that it's definitely worth it.

Quote:

Życie jest piękne.

Jest, jest... zalezy czego w nim szukasz Smile

Blasphemer

Joined: 03 Dec 2008
Posts: 199
Location: NYC/Warszawa

Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 11:38 am Post subject:

Harry from NWE wrote:

Blasphemer wrote:

so what's the score now?

Team Jaded 4
Team common sense 0

I don't believe that there are any winners here resulting from your posts. Perhaps you might like to actually contribute something of use to the board?

You are 100% correct, my team lost.

I also believe that I've tried contributing some useful information not too long ago, but as things usually go down on this board, I was ridiculed by the "elderly", which is fine by the way. I now know that there is something very true to the "aim low" theory.
Anyway Harry, I don't really come here looking for trouble, but you and Dynow seem to find me each and every time usually followed by some cheerleaders. How about we just virtually stay out of each others way and call it a game.

Khrystene

Joined: 17 Apr 2004
Posts: 271
Location: WAW, PL/SYD, AU

Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 11:39 am Post subject:

Hang on hang on... I think you've all been in Poland too long.... Since when did communication have ANYTHING to do with what 'level' you're at?! I was brought up that we should try to understand someone who is trying to speak English, even if their Grammar, etc is lacking. I take the same approach here. I know my Grammar, etc is lacking, but I have fine discussions on Politics, life, love, whatever and everything! I guess I don't have that barrier that some of my Polish students have had - which I named the "Polska blokada", which I fought long and hard to break down. (I know it comes from years of them being told, by their teachers, that if they can't say it perfectly then they shouldn't say it at all.) No one gives a damn about my 'level', people are just happy I go for it. After all, practice makes perfect - isn't that what we teach our students?!

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